Thresher



June 12, 1934. E, E .WICKERSHAM 1,962,541

THRESHER Original Filed July 25, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT B [7070' E. W/ckzrJ/mm A TTORNEYS Jdne 12,-1934.

E. WICKERSHAM 1,962,541

THRESHER Original Filed July 25, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR [Zmzrf W/czrjham wwim A TTOR NE YS Jun;- 12, 1934- E. E. WICKERSHAM THEE SHER Original Filed July 25, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m I E a R RM 0 E I- m fw Patented June 12, 1934 Elmer E. Wickersham,

signor, by mesne assi gnments, to Ca San Leandro, CaliL, a:-

terpillar Tractor 00., San Leandro, Calif., a. corporation of California Application July 25, 1928, SerialNo. 295,228 r Renewed October 17, 1932 11 Claims. (01. 130-27) My invention relates to means for separating grain kernels from grain straw and is particularly applicable to the separator unit of a combined harvester-thresher, which usually includes a header mechanism for cutting the standing grain and delivering it to a separating mechanism which threshes or separates the grain kernels from the grain straw.

An object of my invention is to providean improved housing or shell for the separting mechanism, which will also serve as supporting structure for, the various working parts.

The foregoing and other objects are attained in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, in which I i Fig. l is a side elevation of the thresher of my invention, the rear wheel and blower being removed to disclose more clearly'the drive mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a front portion of the axle size of the figure.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on a vertical plane of the thresher of my invention, particularly disclosingthe interior, separating mechanism. I

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the thresher.

Fig. 5 is a detail showing in cross section the grain impeller.

The thresher of my invention preferably comprises a U-shaped body of corrugated metal within which is situated separating mechanism usually including a grain impeller for transferring grain kernels from one portionof the-mechanism to another and also including a compound straw walker arranged to cooperate with a grain separating screenp i Combined harvester-threshers-are subject to unusually severe stresses in being driven over a field of grain being harvested, and these stresses and resulting strains are particularly noticeable in the separator unit which contains the separating mechanism. Due to the nature of such separating mechanism, it must be rather carefully mounted and the alinement thereof should be carefully preserved. It

elevation of my threshena being cut out to reduce the has been the custom to make the framework and body of a number of panels or sections which are assembled in a more or less flexible manner so that the entire separator body is substantially free to weave and bend under the influences of the various stresses. In the present instance, I preferably provide a thresher body comprising a U-shaped shell 6 conveniently fabricated of corrugated metal. This shell is arranged with its arcuate portion uppermost and with its sides extending downwardly substantially parallel to each other. For increasing the stiffness of the structure, there are provided a number of tie members '1 usually metallic channels spanning the shell 6 and se- 00 cured adjacent the lower edges of the sides. Additional stiffness is imparted to the shell by a tie member 8 conveniently in the form of a plate of metal usually not corrugated, but spanning the shell and also tying together the lower edges (55 of .the sides. Although the shell as thus far described provides a rigid body and support for the separating mechanism, I preferably reinforce the juncture of the tie members '7 and 8 with the sides of the shell and also stiffen the entire 95- sembly by the provision of reinforcem nts 9. These reinforcements are expediently angle irons riveted or otherwise fastened along the lower edges of the shell and to the time members '1 and 8. Inthis manner there is provided a strong, 15 rigid, self-contained shell or body, which is economically manufactured and assembled and is not affected by the weaving and bending stresses ordinarily present and therefore providesan excellent mounting for the separating mechanism. The shell6 is supported preferably on a tubular axle 11 which pierces the sides and at its points ofemergence is reinforced by pads l2'suitably securedto the shell. At one end the tubular axle forms the mounting for a ground engaging wheel 13, while at its other end it passes through a second ground engaging wheel'li. The balance beams 16 for the header, not shown, rest on the axle 11 and pass on either side of the wheel 14. The header usually includes a header spout, not shown, which passes through an opening cut in the forward end of shell 6 and discharges the cut grain onto a feeder 1'7 situated within the shell and extending rearwardly from the forward end thereof. Below the feeder is a wall 18 running rearwardly from a forward bulkhead 19, which closes the front end of the shell, to the discharge end of the feeder. Above the rear end of the feeder 1'? is a beater 21 of the customary type revolved in the proper direction to assist in feeding the grain into a cylinder and concave unit, the parts of which are designated by the numerals 22 and 23, respectively. The cylinder 22 is journalled in the shell 6 and the concaves' are likewise secured to the shell. This mounting is possible due to the rigidity of the body inasmuch as the necessarily close adjustment between the cylinder and concaves can be maintained by the construction disclosed herein. Slightly to the rear of the cylinder and situated thereabove is a no battle 24 for'preventing back-feeding of the grain which is discharged by the rapidly revolving cylinder. This grain is thrown upwardly and rearwardly to lodge on a straw. walker situate in the rearward portion of the shell 6. j

The straw walker is a compound-mechanism and includes a plurality ofprimary shoes 26 and a.

number of secondary shoes 27. The primary shoes each include afipair of side pieces 28 vertically arranged and having serrations 29 at their upper edges. Between the side pieces are located walls 31 arranged at an angle and permitting the passage of grain kernels therebetween. Usually there are provided eccentrics 32 mounted on a shaft 33 journalled in the shell 6 and connected through eccentric straps 34 to the leading ends of the individual primary shoes 26. ,The angular disposition of the eccentrics 32 on the shaft 33 is such that the primary shoes 26 are at their highest points in sequential order. The trailing ends of the primary shoes are pivoted to the free ends of cranks 36 mounted to revolve on a shaft 37 secured to the shell 6. The result of this mounting is that the primary straw walker shoes 26 at their leading ends approximate a rotary motion while at their trailing ends they move in an arcuate path, thereby affording a great deal of agitation to the straw and permitting a good gravital separation of the grain kernels therefrom. This action of the straw walker is continued by the secondary shoes 27, which in construction are similar to the primary shoes 26 and at their forward ends are connected to cranks 38 joined to the crank arms 36 so that the movement of the primary shoes is transmitted to the secondary shoes. Adjacent the trailing end of the secondary shoes, which terminate adjacent the rear end of the shell 6, there are secured pivot arms 39 at their free ends connected to their respective secondary shoes, and at their lower ends mounted to pivot with respect to the shell 6. Thus the secondary shoes also partake of a peculiar combination of fore and aft motion combined with up and down movement, so that the grain straw is kept in an agitated and light fluffy condition permitting the kernels to drop out gravitally and pass downwardly between the walls 28. Y

For receiving the grain kernels which drop through the straw walker, there is provided a separating screen 41. This screen is preferably of the mesh variety mounted on a suitable framework 42 and disposed substantially horizontally in the shell 6 immediately below the primary and secondary straw walker shoes. The leading end of the screen is pivoted to the free end of a crank 44 journalled in the shell 6,'while the trailing end of the screen rests on a cam 46 secured to the shaft of the pivot arm 39 and movable in unison therewith. A link 47 is connected at one end to the frame 42 of the separator screen and at the other end is connected in one of a number of optional positions to the pivot arm 39. The movement of the pivot arm is thus transmitted to the screen 41 and gives it a generally horizontally shaking motion which is augmented by an up and down vibration due to the raising and lowering effect of the cam 46 moving in conjunction with the pivot arm. A thorough shaking is thus given to the grain kernels received by the screen and permits the selected kernels to drop through the screen under the influence of gravity, while the material not selected gradually works toward the rear or trailing end of the screen and passes out of the separator through the open rear end of the shell 6 just below the straw discharged by the straw walker.

The grain kernels which are passed through the screen 41 are received on a trough-48 extending across the shell 6 and depressed longitudinally along its center to form an arcuate or semi-cylindrical housing for a longitudinal grain auger 49. The grain kernels thus flow gravitally to the auger by which they are carried forwardly of the shell 6 to a cross auger 51 extending transversely below the tie member 8 and carrying the grain kernels from the central portion of the shell to one side thereof.

Instead of receiving the grain from the cross auger 51 in an ordinary conveyor of the bucket or chain type, I preferably feed the discharge of the cross auger 51 into a housing 52 opening tangentially into a conduit 53 leading substantially vertically upward to the upper portion of the machine. Within the casing 52 is situated an impeller 54 mounted on and driven by the shaft of the cross auger 51. The blades of the impeller are contacted by the grain kernels flowing from the cross auger and are effective in throwing the kernels tangentially through the conduit 53 to the upper portion of the machine. The air currents set up by the rapid revolution of the impeller are also effective in conveying the grain kernels through the conduit 52 so that they augment the action of the centrifugal impeller.

At its upper end, conduit 53 discharges the grain kernels into a distributor auger '56 which causes the kernels to flow in an even stream onto aseparator screen 57 mounted in the upper part of a bulk grain bin 58. This bulk grain bin is a housing mounted directly on the shell 6 and preferably situate over the axle 11 for better balance The bulk grain bin is preferably of metal sheets suitably reinforced and not only contains the separator screen 57. but also affords storage space for properly separated grain. The separator screen 57 preferably comprises dual sheets of mesh 59 and 60 mounted in a suitable framework 61. At its forward end the framework is connected through a pivoted link 62 to an adjusting crank 63 for regulating the height of the leading end. The rear or trailing end of the separator screen 57 is secured to an arm 64 pivoted intermediate its ends in the bulk grain bin 58 and at its upper end oscillated by a crank 66 driven by the shaft of the distributor auger 56. The separator screen 5'7 is thus given a rocking motion generally in a horizontal direction and is effective in making a final separation of the desired grain kernels from those undesired. Those kernels which are suitable pass gravitally through the meshes 59 and 60 and drop to the inclined bottom 67 of the bulk grain bin. At its lower portion, the bottom is curled around a longitudinal auger 68 which conveys the grain to an elevator 69 by which it is; discharged from the machine.

Those grain kernels which have not passed through the separator screen 57, fall over the leading end thereof and drop through a passage 71 into the forward end of the shell 6, in which they are picked up by the feeder 17 and again passed through the separating mechanism.

As an aid to the separating process, I preferably utilize air blasts furnished by a pair of blowers 72 and 73 mounted on the opposite extremities of a shaft 74 passing'transversely through the bulk grain bin. The blower 72 is provided with a duct 76 passing underneath the shell 6 and discharging through a draft box 7'7 provided with a controlling damper '78. The air blast passing from the box '77 can be accurately directed-:by the damper and usually blows upwardly through the separator screen 41 and through the straw walker shoes 26 and 2'7, so that the straw is kept in a light, fluffy condition although the heavier grain kernels are free to drop gravitally. The blower '13 is likewise provided with a duct 81 leading upwardly to a draft box 82 situate in the upper portion of the bulk grain bin 58 and adapted to discharge below'and through the separator screen 57 to assist in the cleaning of the grain kernels handled there.

' The motive power for the various moving parts of the thresher is derived from an internal'combustion engine 84, suitably mounted and supported on axle 11 and connected through a universal joint 86 with the shaft 8'! of the cylinder 22. On the far side of the machine the cylinder shaft 87 carries a bevel gear 88 meshing with a similar gear 89 on a longitudinal shaft 91. The shaft 91 at itstrailing end drives a worm 92 meshing'with a worm wheel 93 on the shaft 33 driving the straw walker eccentric. Forward of the worm 92 is mounted a bevel gear 94 driving a vertical shaft 96 which meshes with the gear 97 of the cross auger shaft 51 to drive the auger and the blower.. similar gear 98 for driving a to the transverse blower shaft 74. Likewise geared to the for driving the distributor auger 56 gear 104 for geared to a cross shaft header mechanism, not

gine side of the harvester to drive a vertical shaft 109 geared to the rear drum 111 of the feeder 1'1. The shaft 109 extends further upwardly and carries a gear 112 in mesh with a pinion 113 on the shaft of the beater 21. On the far side of the machine, the gear 104 meshes with a similar ge 114 which rotates a sprocket 116 through-themedium of a shaft 117. The sprocket is connected to a similar sprocket auger 68 by means of a chain 119. Thus all parts of the'mechanism are driven from by means of shafting with the single exception of the chain 119.

The thresher disclosed here is ordinarily propelled over the field by a tractor and I have hitch 121 at the forward and lower shell 6. To asportion of the above the tractor hitch and secured to the shell 6, for affecting ascent to a platform 123 mounted on the upper portion of the U-shaped shell 6 and enclosed by a guard rail 124.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the form of the thresher shown and described herein, as the invention, as set forth in the following claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

I claim:

1. A thresher comprising a unitary housing and supporting structure including a substantially U-shaped shell of metal,the arcuate portion of the shell being uppermost, a reinforcing member arranged longitudinally of each of the depending, relatively planar sides of said shell, tie members secured to said reinforcing memalso, if desired,

blower shaft is a shaft 101 carrying.

Ahead of the pinion 89 is a drivforcing tie member spanning I have preferably providedbers, a supporting axle passing fthrough the sides of said shell, and reinforcing pads-encompassing said axle and secured tosai'dshell.

v2.11 thresher comprisinga u ,,'tary housing and supporting structure-including a substantially 'U-shaped shell of metal opening'downwardly; a tie member'spanning said shell, and a supporting axle passing through the sides of said shell adjacent theedges ofthe U.

3. A thresher comprising a unitary housing and supporting structure including a substantially U-shaped shell of metal opening downwardly; a tie member spanning axle passing through the sides'of said shell adjacent the edges of the U, and separating mechanism mounted within said'shell.

4. A thresher-comprising a unitary housing and supporting structure including asubstantially U-shaped shell of metal opening downwardly; 'a supporting axle passing through the sides of said shell adjacent the edges of the U and separating mechanism mounted within said shell.

said shell, a supporting 5. A thresher comprising asunitary housing and supporting. structure including a substantially U-shaped shell of metal opening. downwardly', a tie member spanning said shell, separating mechanisrnmounted within said shell, a supportingmxle passing through the sides of said shell adiacentithe edges ofthe U, and a bulk grain bin mo saidshell.

6., In a mobile threshing machine, a; combined threshingqniechanis'me 'ousing and main supa subopen at the bot- '.tom, a reinforcingjtie.member spanning said open-bottom, ground Guessing members carried drives a power take-offshaft 108 by which the.

shown, is ordinarily driven. The cross shaft 107 emerges on the cm by said shell, andthreshing mechanism within andsupp'orted by said 's'hell.

'Z. In a mobile hrshing machine, a combined threshing mechanism housing and main supporting frame consisting essentially of a substantially rigid unitary fiat-sided shell having an arcuate top and open at the bottom, a reinv said open bottom, groundeng'aging members carried by said shell, and'threshing mechanism within and supported by said shell. 8.21 thresher comprising a unitary housing and supporting structure including a substantially U --shaped shell of metal, the arcuate portion of the shell being uppermost, a reinforcing member arranged longitudinally of each of the depending relatively planar sides of said shell, reinforcing tie means spanning said shell, and a supporting axle passing through the sides of said shell.

9. A thresher comprising a unitary housing and supporting structure including a substantially U-shaped shell of metal, the arcuate portion of the shell being uppermost, a reinforcing member arranged longitudinally of each of the depending relatively planar sides of said shell, reinforcing tie means spanning said shell, a supporting axle, ground-engaging members carried thereby, and means for supporting the shell in a substantially balanced position on said supporting axle.

10. In a mobile threshing machine, a combined threshing mechanism housing and main supporting frame consisting essentially of a substantially rigid unitary flat-sided shell having an arcuate top and open at the bottom, reinforcing tie means spanning said shell adjacent said open bottom, ground-engaging members carried by said shell, and threshing mechanism within and supported by said shell.

11. In a mobile threshing machine, a main supporting frame consisting essentially of a substantially rigid U-shaped structure of sheet metal open at the bottom, reinforcing tie means spanning said open bottom, thresher mechanism enclosed and supported by said frame structure, said frame structure constituting substantially the sole support for said mechanism, and ground-engaging members directly carried by said frame structure, whereby stresses caused by movement of the device over rough ground and by operation of said mechanism are transmitted to and taken up by said main supporting frame structure.

ELMER E. WICKERSHAM. 

